The Promise of Involvement: Asia in the Arctic

Olav Schram Stokke

Strategic Analysis, Vol 37, No 4, 2013, pp. 474-479.

This article argues that deeper Asian involvement in Arctic affairs can only strengthen international governance efforts in key areas like sustainable development, safety at sea, and environmental protection, whereas the potential drawbacks are modest. I review the main concerns voiced regarding outside influence over Arctic affairs, and then show that effective governance of this region will require active support by non-Arctic states within a range of global institutions. Thereafter I ask whether such support can be generated by deeper non-Arctic involvement in the work of the Arctic Council. The final section summarizes the argument and draws some conclusions relevant to policy decisions by the states involved.